Norwich V Newcastle at Carrow Road : Match Preview

12 January 2013 09:09

Norwich could have captain Grant Holt back from a hamstring problem for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at Carrow Road.

Steve Morison (thigh) remains sidelined, so Canada striker Simeon Jackson is pressing for a place in the side after scoring in last weekend's 3-0 FA Cup win at Peterborough and midfielder Jonny Howson is expected to shake off a virus.

Manager Chris Hughton maintains his only focus will be on getting back to winning ways.

Hughton was unceremoniously axed by the Magpies in December 2010, despite the side being in mid-table in the Barclays Premier League following promotion the season before.

The 54-year-old, though, insists plenty of water has flowed under the bridge since then, as he went on to manage at Birmingham before taking over at Carrow Road following Paul Lambert's departure last summer.

Nevertheless, Hughton is still held in high regard by the Toon Army and received a warm reception when Norwich played at St James' Park in September.

However, with Norwich having lost their last four Premier League games before last weekend's FA Cup win at Peterborough, Hughton maintains he has enough to worry about within his own squad than to concern himself with what might be going wrong for Magpies boss Alan Pardew.

"Of course it is a nice feeling, and it is probably an appreciation of the job I did there," Hughton said.

"But as soon as that whistle blows, it is about business and trying to play well enough to get the points.

"Anything at Newcastle now, though, is not my concern. My only concern is here and the job I am doing here.

Fabricio Coloccini is set to return to the Newcastle line-up despite persistent rumours linking him with a move back to Argentina.

Pardew's injury problems have eased with the news that Yohan Cabaye is expected to return to the bench after a groin strain, but Steven Taylor and Hatem Ben Arfa remain out and Shola Ameobi is suspended after his red card last week.

Pardew knows his big names will be needed to end a dismal run of just four points from 10 away league games this season.

He added: "We are getting some senior bodies back around the team at a crucial time.

"We really need to get some momentum back for our fans, who we really let down last week. It is important that we give a really good account of ourselves at Norwich and start getting points on the board.

"We have been very competitive and we just need that break to give us the win and the good feeling in the group.

"I don't think we're a million miles away from that. Certainly the team that played last week was a shadow of the one that will line up at Norwich."